An Early Contender: For years, Stanley Tucci has been one of the most reliable supporting actors in the movie business, capable of giving knockout performances in comedies, dramas -- and even The Hunger Games. But now he’s on the verge of landing a lead role as a terminally-ill psychiatrist in David Yates’ Your Voice in My Head, which will star Emma Watson as a suicidal woman who seeks help. The film is considered a “prestige,” awards-worthy project, making Tucci, who was nominated as Best Supporting Actor for The Lovely Bones (above), a possible candidate for Best Actor before the contract is even signed. [Showblitz]

Shakespeare in Action: After directing Thor and then scoring an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn, Kenneth Branagh is ready to direct again, applying his new-found action chops to a reboot of the Jack Ryan character. Chris Pine is set to play Ryan, who has previously been embodied by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, and Ben Affleck. The project lost director Jack Bender last week, but is still on schedule to start filming this summer; Branagh is expected to bring “sophistication” to the director’s chair, as Jack Ryan is redefined as a younger, less-experienced character. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Writers Hired: A new film version of Kazuo Koike’s manga Lone Wolf and Cub inched forward yesterday with the news that David and Janet Peoples (Twelve Monkeys) have been attached to write the script, joining director Justin Lin on the project. The manga, which revolves around the adventures of a samurai and his three-year-old son, inspired a series of six Japanese films in the 70s, alternatively known as the Sword of Vengeance or Baby Cart series, with a seventh title (Shogun Assassin) cobbled together from the first six. David Webb Peoples shared credit on Blade Runner and was nominated for an Academy Award for Unforgiven. [Deadline]

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